How ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ Inspired the World of ‘The Simpsons’
The Simpsons wouldn’t exist without a number of classic TV shows that inspired the show’s writers, while also leaving their genitals withered and useless, we assume.
For example, writer Jon Vitti once claimed that the show was basically a blend of the Adam West Batman series and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. And creator Matt Groening has admitted that the character of Bart Simpson was inspired by his love of Leave It to Beaver’s resident degenerate Eddie Haskell.
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But what about the town of Springfield? Despite the ultracompetitiveness between several real-life Springfields, the town was actually named after the 100 percent fictional setting of the old-timey sitcom Father Knows Best. And, not unlike The Simpsons, the show never divulged which state Springfield was located in.
But Groening’s vision for Springfield was actually based on a whole other fake town from a totally different black-and-white sitcom: The Andy Griffith Show.
In a recently-released special issue of Time Magazine dedicated to “America’s Favorite Family,” Groening described how the world of The Simpsons was inspired by his fascination with Mayberry, North Carolina.
“As a kid I loved The Andy Griffith Show, and the idea that Mayberry had a barber and a town drunk and all these other people,” Groening explained. “I thought let’s do that with Springfield, but you know, we were not limited to just a few actors and a few sets — we can draw whatever we want, and so there are hundreds of secondary characters, some that were written for a single joke who have stayed on the show for three decades.”
The fleshed-out world of Springfield is arguably a big reason why the show has endured for so long. And as Groening mentioned, minor characters and one-joke personalities like Disco Stu, Duffman and that sarcastic clerk who may or may not be one of countless Lovecraftian monsters have reappeared over the years, giving the cartoon community a sense of grounded realism — even though nobody ever ages and there’s a literal escalator to nowhere.
This influence could be the reason why The Simpsons has referenced The Andy Griffith Show on multiple occasions, albeit in some fairly dark and twisted ways. Like the time we got to see Charles Bronson fill in for Griffith and go on a folksy murder spree.
And in Season 29’s “Springfield Splendor,” Homer and Bart go on a fishing trip, set to the familiar whistle-filled Andy Griffith Show theme song. But it turns out that they stole the fishing poles from an Andy Taylor-like dad and his son, who proceed to beat the crap out of the thieves.
Speaking of Griffith, how could we not mention the time that a gang of rowdy senior citizens put “TV’s Matlock” in the hospital?
Although that scene may have been less of a tribute to Griffith and more the result of a genuine annoyance at Matlock.
